Road Warrior: Speed limit lowered on Highway 3 in North Kitsap

The in basket: State highway officials have decided the speed limit on a stretch of Highway 3 in North Kitsap should be lowered by five miles per hour.

A news release says the 55 mph speed limit from the Highway 305 interchange in Poulsbo to Baltic Lane just south of the Hood Canal Bridge will be dropped to 50 mph this week. That’s about 6½ miles of highway.

I asked for a little more information.

The out basket: Doug Adamson of the Olympic Region of state highways said: “This started after WSDOT heard from a constituent who was concerned about collisions on SR 3 between SR 305 and Pioneer Way. This resident specifically was concerned about accessing SR 3 via NW Beaver Ridge.”

That road intersects the highway across from the similarly named Pioneer Hill Road a little to the south.

“We followed up with a speed study that supported the speed limit reduction,” Doug said.

I asked if the lines of cars that often occupy the shoulder of Highway 3 when the bridge is closed to vehicle traffic played a role in the decision and he said they did.

“Speed limits reflecting the speed most motorists naturally drive are selected in part by determining the 85th percentile,” he said.

“In a speed study, our crews will use radar equipment to track actual speeds of vehicles to determine the 85th percentile. That is the speed that 85 out of 100 vehicles travel at or below.

“The lowered speed limit will be enforceable as soon as the signs are posted,” Doug said. “The new signs are scheduled to be installed during the week of Sept. 24.

“As a side note, you might remember in spring 2017, WSDOT replaced the existing 55 mph speed limit with a 50 mph speed limit on SR 3 from Gorst to Belfair. That change also was a result of a WSDOT speed study."

Have a question for the Road Warrior? Call 360-792-9217 or email tvisb@wavecable.com.

Correction

Readers' heads must have been spinning after reading the recent Road Warrior column regarding all-way stops at a Sidney Road intersection in Port Orchard. The road was variously called Beaver Creek and Berry Creek. The correct name of the Road is Berry Lake.